Best Body Hair Razor: Gillette Intimate Razor
If you’re committed to shaving your back with the same cartridge-style razor as your cheeks (dealer’s choice on which “cheeks” I mean), then I’d happily endorse this manscaping sensation from Gillette. It’s built for your fragile, awkwardly shaped junk, which is why I trust it to navigate the blindspots on my back. (I like to apply the same thinking to my skincare and shaving: When in doubt, buy the product that’s built for the sensitive stuff.) I often ask my partner to shave my back for me, too, especially ahead of a long beach-sprawling week, and that’s when I want to deploy something that allows for this kind of precision and sensitivity, packaged into one. As for self shaving: While the Gillette doesn’t let me reach every square inch of my back like I can with the electric and expandable options, it’s a terrific solution for battling wooly collar creep: shoulder-level shaves and upper-back cleanups. Be sure to stock up on some extra cartridges, too.
Best Ergonomic Back Shaver: Mangroomer Intellimax Pro Back Shaver
Long before I employed my partner for my back hair maintenance, Mangroomer was a lifesaver. It’s the best electric manscaping option for any combination of shaving and trimming your backside; its two interchangeable heads allow for whichever task you need to tackle. And above all, this foldable and adjustable trimmer gives you full control over your shaving domain—that is, your backside and its many blindspots. My preference is to use it as a dry shaver, since it won’t cut quite as riskily close as an actual manual razor. I’ve never had any issues with nicking or razor burn with the Intellimax Pro’s main trimming head, and honestly, I just leave its trimming head attached. It cuts to a 0.5mm stubble—so short it’s not even stubble—which feels as good as a shave for me (especially considering that it eliminates the threat of razor burn and ingrowns).
Best Ergonomic Back Trimmer: Panasonic Body Groomer ER-GK80-S
Panasonic’s all-star manscaper won gold in our best body groomers list for a few years running, for two key reasons. First, Panasonic always delivers serious power and performance. Second—and specific to back hair trimming—its vertical trimming head makes snipping hairs—even from behind your back and over your shoulder—ridiculously easy, skating over hairy skin without any friction or agony. (It does require the slightest flexibility to hit the centermost part of your back, but it’s a trick you’ll master after the first few uses.) This design also makes it great for snipping hairs in odd crevices, like at the top of your haunch, and in the armpits. For back hair mitigation, I prefer to use the bare blade, no guards; I assume the same of you, since leaving short hairs feels against the point. And although I sometimes get a slight red streak due to the proximity of the trim, it never stings and it always disappears within a couple hours.
Best Shoulder Shaver: Remington Balder Pro Head Shaver XR7000
Lots of guys don’t need a back hair shaver, but do require the aid of a good shoulder hair mitigation plan. For that, use the same device that tops our list of the best bald head shavers: This rotary-faced shaver from Remington hugs every curve of your shoulders, and can intake the coarsest or curliest of hairs without requiring a dozen passes. Plus, if you’re bald, you can just do everything together in the shower, in one single stretch.
